Bottom Line:
Though both have been shown to control choices, the cognitive abilities associated with these systems are under ongoing investigation.Here we examine the link to cognitive abilities, and find that individual differences in processing speed covary with a shift from model-free to model-based choice control in the presence of above-average working memory function.Furthermore, it provides a rationale for individual differences in the tendency to deploy valuation systems, which may be important for understanding the manifold neuropsychiatric diseases associated with malfunctions of valuation.

ABSTRACTTheories of decision-making and its neural substrates have long assumed the existence of two distinct and competing valuation systems, variously described as goal-directed vs. habitual, or, more recently and based on statistical arguments, as model-free vs. model-based reinforcement-learning. Though both have been shown to control choices, the cognitive abilities associated with these systems are under ongoing investigation. Here we examine the link to cognitive abilities, and find that individual differences in processing speed covary with a shift from model-free to model-based choice control in the presence of above-average working memory function. This suggests shared cognitive and neural processes; provides a bridge between literatures on intelligence and valuation; and may guide the development of process models of different valuation components. Furthermore, it provides a rationale for individual differences in the tendency to deploy valuation systems, which may be important for understanding the manifold neuropsychiatric diseases associated with malfunctions of valuation.

Mentions:
Several aspects of cognitive abilities affected the strength of model-based decision-making as measured by the reward × transition effect. There was a significant three-way interaction between linear DSST, reward, and transition (b = 59 [21 96]; for p-values see Table 2), indicating more model-based choices in high speed (DSST) subjects (see Figures 2A–C,E). Similar three-way interactions involving linear TMTspeed (b = −47 [−83 −11]; see SOM Figure S1A) and linear MWT (b = 43 [5 81]; see SOM Figure S1B) also showed more model-based behavior with increasing TMTspeed and MWT, but did not survive FDR correction (p < 0.10, see Table 2). There was no significant effect for any other cognitive ability measure.

Bottom Line:
Though both have been shown to control choices, the cognitive abilities associated with these systems are under ongoing investigation.Here we examine the link to cognitive abilities, and find that individual differences in processing speed covary with a shift from model-free to model-based choice control in the presence of above-average working memory function.Furthermore, it provides a rationale for individual differences in the tendency to deploy valuation systems, which may be important for understanding the manifold neuropsychiatric diseases associated with malfunctions of valuation.

ABSTRACTTheories of decision-making and its neural substrates have long assumed the existence of two distinct and competing valuation systems, variously described as goal-directed vs. habitual, or, more recently and based on statistical arguments, as model-free vs. model-based reinforcement-learning. Though both have been shown to control choices, the cognitive abilities associated with these systems are under ongoing investigation. Here we examine the link to cognitive abilities, and find that individual differences in processing speed covary with a shift from model-free to model-based choice control in the presence of above-average working memory function. This suggests shared cognitive and neural processes; provides a bridge between literatures on intelligence and valuation; and may guide the development of process models of different valuation components. Furthermore, it provides a rationale for individual differences in the tendency to deploy valuation systems, which may be important for understanding the manifold neuropsychiatric diseases associated with malfunctions of valuation.